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Thursday, May 1, 2014

Five Minute Friday: Mess

It's time for Five Minute Friday! We write for just five minutes without over-thinking and editing, without making sure that everything is perfect. It's quick and easy blogging, just what this girl needs! This week the word is "mess."

Have I ever shown you my bedside area? It's a mess! It's always a mess. Because I have to spend most of my time in bed, all of my books, medicines, to-do items, current crafts, Bible study materials, etc. have to be within arm's reach. I fit what I can into my nightstand and bedside basket, but everything else spills onto the surrounding floor area. It annoys me, but I've learned to live with it.

From what I hear from my chronic illness friends, this is a very typical nightstand and bedside area! You never know what you might need quickly, so things like meds, a pulse-ox, blood pressure cuff, extra blanket, heating pad, emergency snacks, phone charger, etc. typically stay within arms reach. Life with a chronic illness is just messy!

My bed is usually messy too. During the day Will's side of the bed gets taken over with my books, snacks, mail, Bible study materials, and other things. And while we're talking about messes, my hair is typically messy too as I am resting in bed. I'm just a mess!

I am so thankful that I can serve God, even in the midst of this mess. I don't have to clean up and be perfect. I don't have to have all of the "to-do" list done. I can say "yes" to serving the Lord right from here, right in the midst of the mess! I can serve the Lord through writing, through praying, and through talking to and encouraging my family, all right here in the middle of my my messy life. Like Kristen Welch, I can say yes in my mess!

Your blog is such an inspiration to me. Living as a Dysautonomia patient myself, it is always a little bit encouraging to see that other people are going through the same stuff I am- even though I would never wish this on anyone!

I love Kristen's blog--we've given to Mercy House and started sponsoring a Compassion child because of her posts. I would love to win a copy of her book. As a homeschooling mom of 6 who's approaching the big 4-0 this year, being "purposeful" with my choices has been much on my mind already, and I need to spend some dedicated time listening to God so I can sort out which things are my ideas and which are His, and what exactly are the most important things to say "yes" to in this season. Thanks for doing this giveaway!

“God Is Just not Fair” is written by Jennifer Rothschild, who started becoming blind at the age of 15. She has now been blind for over 25 years. A few years ago she really struggled in her faith, battling depression and questioning God. In this book she grapples with big questions of faith.

I’m about a third of the way through the book so far, and I really like it. The first question she tackles is “God, are you fair?” When someone with the same eye condition as her was miraculously healed, Jennifer Rothschild was genuinely glad for her, but also hurt that she herself hadn’t been healed. She began to question God’s fairness.

Jennifer shares that no, God isn’t fair! He “does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities” (Psalm 103:10). She comes to the conclusion that “thankfully, God is not fair.” He doesn’t treat us as we deserve. He gives so much grace!

Jennifer tells the story of being at a conference in which everyone thought that if she had enough faith she would be healed. I was encouraged by reading of Jennifer’s faith in the midst of suffering. I loved this quote from her: “Because of God’s grace, I have been granted faith. The faith I have is sufficient faith for healing – and it is sufficient faith for suffering.”

I’m hoping to share about this book here on my blog after I finish reading it. So stay tuned! :)

Thanks so much, just went to the website... Read a post. Can wait to read some more. Yes God is clever in the ways he finds us and helps us.. Thank you God for people like Rachel who you use in big and mighty ways to reach people all over the world.

I say big and mighty because it is a gift of humility and love to reach out to vulnerable, suffering, people with real honesty and compassion. You don't pretend that there are no bad days and some days that helps me to draw near to God and see that God loves me fully and yes, I have dysautonomia.